{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/66d9c19629a27e316730341c/6a74b7f2c3e1347e8b7d0fe6?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Mister Miracle (2018) by Tom King and Mitch Gerads- Archive Episode","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/66d9c19629a27e316730341c/1786032595834-27c5f5dd-4463-45b2-8a00-37b2ea555272.jpeg?height=200","description":"<h2>What happens when the man who can escape anything cannot escape himself?</h2><p><br></p><p>In this remastered archive episode, first recorded in 2019 and reissued with new context and commentary, Mick and Ben dig into <strong>Mister Miracle</strong> (2017-2018) by <strong>Tom King</strong> and <strong>Mitch Gerads</strong>, the Eisner Award winning 12 issue series from DC Comics.</p><p><br></p><p>The episode covers:</p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Jack Kirby's Fourth World</strong> and why the New Gods were born out of Kirby's experience as an army field artist in World War II</li><li><strong>Darkseid as inevitability</strong> rather than brawler, the Anti-Life Equation as a proof that free will does not exist, and how \"Darkseid Is\" moves from a Grant Morrison and Howard Porter phrase in <em>Rock of Ages</em> into a formal storytelling device</li><li><strong>Scott Free and Big Barda</strong> as one of the most realistic relationships in superhero comics, and how nature versus nurture plays out for two people raised on Apokolips</li><li><strong>Depression, PTSD and the \"stand / standing\" mantra</strong>, plus the recurring shower motif and the comic's critique of push-through-it advice</li><li><strong>Mitch Gerads' art</strong>, the post-eighties nine-panel grid, and a rendition of Apokolips inspired by burning oil wells in Iraq</li><li>Granny Goodness, Lightray, Orion, Highfather, Funky Flashman and the Stan Lee parody nobody quite agreed on</li><li>Is any of it real? Metron, the offer to return to continuity, and that final \"will not be continued\" panel</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Plus a disagreement about whether Tom King can write an ending, and recommendations if you liked this one: <em>The Vision</em>, <em>God Country</em>, <em>Invincible</em>.</p><p>Timely too, with <strong>Mister Miracle</strong> newly announced as its own DC Animated series.</p><p><br></p><p><em>(No relation to Michael's friend Tom King, who does jujitsu.)</em></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Follow the Podcast:</strong></p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://discord.gg/CTKJr3j2jp\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Join the Discord and read along</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"https://collectingissuespodcast.substack.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Read Our Substack</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/collectingissues/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Follow us on Instagram</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@collectingissues?lang=en\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Follow us on Tiktok</strong></a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JTsT8MXJtk5jr4sJxUpXQ\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Watch us on Youtube</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Tags / keywords</strong></p><p>Mister Miracle, Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Scott Free, Big Barda, Darkseid, New Gods, Fourth World, Jack Kirby, DC Comics, Anti-Life Equation, Granny Goodness, Apokolips, New Genesis, comic book podcast, comic book review, nine panel grid, Eisner Award, depression in comics, Collecting Issues</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Archive Episode Setup</p><p>01:28 Premise and Darkseid Context</p><p>02:45 Tom King Not Your Friend</p><p>04:03 Kirby Fourth World Basics</p><p>05:41 War and Anti Life Origins</p><p>09:19 Scott and Barda Home Life</p><p>10:19 Unreliable Reality Question</p><p>11:44 Humanizing Gods and Morality</p><p>17:22 Nature Versus Nurture Trauma</p><p>18:49 Mitch Gerads Art Breakdown</p><p>20:47 Continuity Constraints Critique</p><p>22:17 Shock Deaths No Stakes</p><p>22:30 Tom King No Consequences</p><p>23:42 End Of Fourth World</p><p>24:17 Messy Structure Endings</p><p>25:01 Darkseid Is Device</p><p>26:49 Inevitable Darkseid Dread</p><p>29:10 Funky Flashman Critique</p><p>30:30 Depression PTSD Themes</p><p>31:17 Stand And Shower Metaphors</p><p>34:05 Choice Happy Ending</p><p>36:23 Symbolism Silver Age Love</p><p>37:50 Stakes Alternate Reality</p><p>38:35 What Else To Read</p><p>41:24 Final Thoughts And Outro</p><p>42:04 Reissue And Animated News</p>","author_name":"Mick and Ben"}